Rich Mom Shames Kid For Being Poor, Regrets It Soon - Story of the Day

A woman hated that her son’s best friend came from one of the poorest families in the area and shamed the kid constantly throughout their life. But years later, she did something unforgivable and lost everything.

Ryan met Vanessa on his first day at kindergarten. She was the only little girl playing on her own, and Ryan just wanted to make friends. Some of the other kids approached her first and made fun of her clothes.

That’s when Ryan noticed that most of Vanessa's clothes had holes in them, but he didn’t care. The other girls made fun of her and never let her sit with them so Ryan introduced himself, and they quickly became best friends.

When his mother picked him up that day, he told her about Vanessa. “She’s the coolest in the class,” he said as he climbed their car and pointed her out to her mom. Vanessa was walking with her mom hand in hand.

“Hmmm, well, that’s nice,” his mother said dismissively. He paid no mind to his mother but wound discover years later that it’s because she hated the idea of her son being friends with Vanessa.

Ryan came from an extremely wealthy family. His father came from old money and built an incredible business in the tech sector at Silicon Valley. Meanwhile, his mother was a celebrity lawyer. But all the privilege came at a prize.

Ryan's parents were barely ever home, and nannies and butlers raised him for a long time. School was his only solace. He even met Vanessa’s mom once, and she was the most caring adult he had ever known.

Unfortunately, as Ryan grew older, his mother would berate him even more about his friendship with Vanessa. They were both 14 years old the first time his mother had yelled and threatened him.

“You will not see that girl again. She’s a bad influence, and it makes us look bad that you’re always around her!” she exclaimed.

“Mom, she’s my best friend at school. I can’t stop seeing her. Stop this fixation you have on social status or whatever,” Ryan answered, frustrated.

“Ryan, the friends you make now could be important connections for the future. Many kids in your school come from important families, and you’re only hanging out with the scholarship kid,” his mother added.

“I don’t care. Those important kids are mindless robots that only care about clothes and money. I don’t want that life!” Ryan finished and went to his room.

Over the years, his mother would continue saying similar things to no avail. Ryan would not stop being friends with Vanessa, especially when they started dating officially at 16.

He couldn’t and didn’t want to hide the relationship from his parents because Vanessa was important. For the most part, his father didn’t care who he was seeing, but his mother hated the girl.

Unfortunately, there was one life event that threatened to separate them for a long time. They would be going to college soon, and Ryan had been forced to apply to Ivy League schools. Vanessa was smart, but she could never afford these places.

They had a tough conversation when Ryan received his acceptance to Yale, his dream school. “Ryan, babe. You have to go to college. It’s your dream, and I can’t stop you from that,” Vanessa told him.

“I can’t imagine life without you. I don’t know how I would’ve survived or who I would’ve grown up to be without you and your family,” Ryan said.

“Don’t worry! I’ve been researching some cheaper options in your area. I would need to attend a community college here first and then transfer nearby. It would only be a year or so before we would be together again,” Vanessa explained happily.

“That’s amazing! You’re a genius!” he said and hugged. They also kissed, and their relationship went further that day.

But trouble struck when his mother found out what Vanessa was planning. “You will not be pining for her at college! Yale has been your dream for a long time, and girls are just distractions!” his mother yelled.

“Mom, we’re going to be adults. You can’t stop us from being together. When we graduate, we’ll get married. So get used to it or be forced out of my life,” Ryan said, tired of his mother’s nagging about Vanessa.

“Oh yeah? I’ve let this go on far too long. You either listen to me and do what I say, or I’ll make sure that Vanessa has no opportunities at all. She won’t even get into community college, and I’ll make her family suffer the consequences of your stupid rebellion. Is that what you want?” she threatened.

“You don’t have that kind of power, you bitter old woman!” he yelled.

“You call me whatever you want, but I won’t let you ruin your future for some poor girl. I tried to let it go, thinking you would be over her by now. But it’s time to take action. So you decide,” his mother said and left.

Ryan didn’t know what to think. His mother could certainly make good on that promise. She had tons of connections. Vanessa was scared of what his mother might do to her family.

“Should we run away?” he asked, desperate for her to say yes.

“I can’t leave my family alone like that. I’m sorry,” she answered. So, they agreed that he would go to college. Vanessa would stay here and wait for him. Once they graduated, they would be together.

They loved each other fiercely through the rest of their senior year then Ryan left for college. At first, they talked all the time, but suddenly, Vanessa disappeared. She had blocked him everywhere.

“Mom, have you heard anything from Vanessa? Please! I’m so worried,” he asked her after running out of options.

“That worthless girl has moved on already. I told you, Ryan. She was not good enough for you. Forget her, and find yourself a nice girl at Yale,” his mother said on the phone and hung up.

He couldn’t believe it, but it must be true because she never answered again. Unfortunately, moving on was not easy, and the girls he met at college were just empty and vain.

He often thought about going back to town and looking for Vanessa himself. But she had made her choice and he wouldn’t get in the way of her happiness. Years went by, and he finally graduated. New York was his goal now, but Ryan flew back home to get some of his things from his parents' house.

He couldn’t help it and drove by Vanessa’s home, hoping to see her. Maybe, she had moved out of her parents’ house. But there she was, watering the plants. Suddenly, a little boy ran to her.

“Mommy, mommy. Look! A butterfly!” he said excitedly. Ryan couldn’t breathe. Vanessa was the boy’s mother? The kid looked around four years old and looked exactly like him.

“Ryan? What are you doing here?” Vanessa asked when she saw him getting out of his car in front of her house.

“Is he mine?” Ryan asked, not answering her question. Vanessa looked apologetic but nodded.

“Yes. He is yours. His name is Adam, and he has been dying to meet his dad,” she explained. Then, she told him everything that happened. She discovered the pregnancy a few months after he left.

His mother had threatened Vanessa when she told her about it. “She said this would ruin your life, and I didn’t want that for you,” Vanessa finished and cried.

Ryan almost couldn’t control his anger but comforted Vanessa as best he could. “You and Adam will never be alone again. I’m here,” he assured her. Later, he went to confront his mother.

“You can’t move here! I told you she would ruin your life! She’s the worst thing that ever happened to you,” his mother bellowed.

“No, you are! You kept my son away from me and lost the first years of his life! I will never forgive you. You don’t have a son anymore,” Ryan said and walked off. He never spoke to his mother again but soon discovered that his father had no idea about any of this.

Regardless, Ryan's father apologized for what his wife had done and became an amazing grandfather to Adam. Meanwhile, Ryan and Vanessa got married. Ryan inherited the family fortune, but his greatest wealth would always be Vanessa and Adam.

What can we learn from this story?

1. Money is not everything. It’s fantastic to grow up wealthy and never have to worry, but it’s not the most important part of life.

2. Ignore status. Some people focus too much on what others have or don’t have that they forget to live.

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If you enjoyed this story, you might like this one about a man who shames his friend for wanting to be a musician but learns a huge lesson in the end.

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